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Archive for January, 2015

Apparently 20th Century Fox has completed a deal to develop a new Alien movie with the South African born director Neill Blomkamp. This is not connected to the current sci-fi movie directed by Ridley Scott and his company Scott Free will be directing the new movie too. Other off-shoots of the sci-fi thriller includes “Prometheus 2” which still under filming. At this time it is unclear whether Sigourney Weaver will be coming back or not. The new film is expected to be a sequel to Prometheus.

Alien franchise started with its science fiction horror series in 1979 with its Alien directed by Ridley Scott and still going strong. The first movie starred by Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright and many others. Who could forget the highly aggressive extraterrestrial character that killed the spaceship crew? Movie was honored with an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and many others. The first movie was a commercial success making more than $80 million in the US and over $203 million worldwide. This financial success allowed 20th Century Fox to finance three sequels during the next 18 years. Sigourney Weaver remained as the main actress for these three sequels as well as another off-shoot. All these created a separate media franchise.

Comedy and drama landscape is changing. For 2014 Emmy considerations Netflix submitted its hit series Orange is the New Black as a comedy while HBO submitted its successful True Detective as a drama. These and other considerations are now forcing Emmys to revise its criteria. The Television Academy is now proposing to change 60-minute series to be drama and 30-minute series to be comedies. This reflects the changing climate of the industry where more and more content are distributed through Netflix and HBO.

If an episode of a series is 30 minutes or less, it will be defined as comedies. Similarly those episodes in series that exceed 30 minutes will be a drama. However, if a producer has concerns over the criteria, he or she can petition the nine-member Academy panel. This panel consists of five members from the industry leaders appointed by the Chairman of the Television Academy and four members appointed by the Board of Governors. A two-thirds majority is required for approval of a petition and to be put into an alternative category. Changes also been made to the Guest Actor category requiring less than 50 percent appearance. Also the miniseries category has been renamed as “Limited Series.”

One of the most talked about new movie at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival is Mommy competing for the covenant Palme d’Or, the main competition section and won the Jury Prize. It premiered at the festival on May 22, 2014 and received a 13-minute standing ovation. The drama was also submitted as the Canada’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category for the upcoming 87th Academy Awards. It is coming to US theaters in late January 2015. Directed and written by 25-year old French-Canadian Xavier Dolan, the film is considered to be “an audacious, stylish, impressive family drama.”

The plot revolves around a widowed mother played by Anne Doral as “Die” Despres, struggling to raise her difficult and sometimes violent son, Steve Despres played by Antoine Olivier. Single mother begin to get help from her mysterious neighbor, Kyla played by Suzanne Clement. There is sex and drama.

Reviewers gave four-stars for the movie according to The Guardian newspaper. Rotten Tomatoes, an online review site gives it an 89 percent “fresh” rating based on 82 reviews it received. The movie was selected by professionals and movie makers and listed as “Canada’s Top Ten” feature films of 2014.

The TV lineup for January 2015 and beyond is very exciting. Marvel’s Agent Carter is on ABC at 8 p.m. Veteran movie star Hayley Atwell who started on two Captain America movies and the short film, Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter is paying the main character on the TV show. She will play the undercover character Peggy. It is expected to air seven episodes.

Starting January 7, 2015, Empire will air on Fox at 9 p.m. It is about a music business and Terrance Howard plays the head of the company. Taraji P. Henson plays the role of his ex-wife, Cookie and the character makes a mess in the company after she gets out of jail where she spent few years. Their three sons are put against one another to compete to succeed the leader at the top of the company.

Starting on January 22, 2015 you can watch Backstrom on Fox at 9 p.m. If you liked “House!” definitely you are going to love this show. Rainn Wilson plays the brilliant puzzle-solver, cranky, and can’t get alone with anyone police detective character. Show is created by the famous Bones creator, Hart Hanson. But be aware of sensitive racist jokes.